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The JC Letters Page, 20th December 2019

JC readers share their views

January 10, 2020 15:28
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4 min read

Fearing extreme dangers

We are keenly aware of the danger posed to British Jews by jihadist terrorism, Islamist extremism and the levels of antisemitism within Muslim communities. This has shaped much of our work over many years, but we object to Melanie Phillips’s article (Don’t fall for bogus claims of ‘Islamophobia’, December 13) in which she describes “Islamophobia” as “profoundly anti-Jew”. 

We know how hurtful it is when people claim that allegations of antisemitism are just a smear to silence any and all criticism of Israel, or when they say they oppose genuine Jew-hatred before then picking apart the word “antisemitism” as if implying that no such thing really exists. Essentially, Phillips’s article did just that, but there is plenty of survey evidence showing that anti-Muslim prejudice is widespread in this country, and it is clear that Islamists’ use of “Islamophobia” has not somehow resulted in “the Islamic world” escaping criticism, regardless of how fair or harsh that criticism may be.   

Meanwhile, we have just come through a bruising election campaign that showed the appalling extent to which antisemitism is now part of mainstream politics. Whatever the shortcomings of the words “antisemitism” and “Islamophobia”, both problems are very real; combating them is made much harder when one is pitted against the other. 

Marie van der Zyl President, Board of Deputies of British Jews
Jonathan Goldstein Chair, Jewish Leadership Council
David S. Delew Chief Executive, Community Security Trust